Nestor Fernandez, whose transportation career began 22
years ago in Mexico and spans nearly two decades with the Idaho Transportation
Department, assumed responsibilities this week for administering the
state’s GARVEE-bonded construction program.

In his new position, Fernandez will help shape Idaho’s
transportation future by coordinating Gov. Kempthorne’s Connecting
Idaho initiative.

The visionary plan leverages future federal funds to
compress three decades of highway construction projects into the next
10 years, vastly improving travel in every region of Idaho and stimulating
commerce and tourism.

“This key leadership role will coordinate and administer
the GARVEE Investment Program enacted by the Legislature in April,”
said ITD Director Dave Ekern in announcing the appointment Tuesday.

“He will work with the districts, Transportation
Board, Headquarters staff, the department’s new program management
company and others to focus on delivery of $1.2 billion in the 13 GARVEE
corridors throughout the state.”

Fernandez agrees the future will be both challenging
and rewarding as the Idaho embarks on one of the largest construction
eras in state history.

“These are new and exciting times for the Idaho
Transportation Department,” he said. “I am excited to be
part of the department’s future as we explore alternative funding
opportunities and seek ways to expand the transportation infrastructure
for Idaho. I look forward to creating strong relationships with the
districts in this new journey.”

Fernandez began his ITD career in 1987 as a Transportation
Technician-Senior, working in the materials lab, testing paving materials
such as asphalt, soils, aggregate and concrete. He also assisted with
new product research.

He joined the EIT program two years later, rotating through
an array of assignments including District 4 design and construction,
District 3 maintenance and traffic, and roadway design, materials, right-of-way,
construction, environmental, internal review and financial services
at ITD Headquarters.

As staff engineer for District 3 in Boise (1992-1997)
Fernandez served as local roads coordinator and design engineer. In
that capacity he designed, reviewed and evaluated local and state projects.
Highlights include work on the Franklin-to-Curtis interchange (Interstate
84), the WYE Interchange, Sebree-to-Fairfield interchange and the McCall
Alternate Route.

For the past seven years, he has worked as Engineer Manager
1 at Headquarters, as the consultant administration and local roads
engineer. He was responsible for managing more than $30 million annually
in professional service agreements for the department.
Before coming to Idaho, he was superintendent of concrete construction
company in Mexico.

He became a licensed professional engineer in 1992 in
Idaho and a licensed civil engineer in Mexico 19 years earlier. Fernandez
graduated from Polytecnico National Institute in Mexico City in 1983.

“We are excited to continue the Connecting Idaho
process and are confident Nestor will provide us the critical leadership,”
Ekern added. “Please join me in congratulating Nestor and assisting
him in the transition as we enter the most exciting period in Idaho
transportation history.”